New Waterline Stripe

[foolproof]

I'm in a quandry, and need some help.

I recently repainted the hull of my boat, and in the process I covered up the old stripe. I want to have a waterline stripe, and thought that I could just mask it off and tape it. Boy, was I wrong!

My problem is that as the boat curves under, like in the back where the stripe wraps around, it gets wider to maintain what looks like an equal width line around the boat. That makes it basically impossible to mask it off and look right.

Does anyone have an idea as to how to lay the stripe out? What I thought would be simple has turned out to be the hardest part so far.

Thanks for your help.

Mike

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Your quandry is noted and agree that masking a waterline a'capela is not an easy thing to do. Many years ago I repainted my Westsail, boot stripe included and here's how I did it:

1. Level the boat on the hard using the clear hose and water technique, fore & aft and athwartships.

2. Make small marks at the bow and stern for the bottom of the waterline using the fore & aft clear hose/water.

3. Set up a builder's level (transit) off the beam approximately 20 feet or as far as possible if you can't do 20 feet. Transits are available at virtually all tool rental yards for minimal $$.

4. With a helper, make marks along the hull level with the bow and stern marks maybe 1 - 2 feet apart using the transit. This is the bottom of the waterline.

5. Sighting through the transit and with the helper holding a tape measure plumb, make another set of marks for the top of the waterline, offset is of your choosing.

6. Mask from mark to mark, frequently sight through the transit to confirm masking is accurate.

7. Repeat for the other side.

If you're adept at the clear hose/water level technique, you can loosen one end of the hose and use it along the hull to make your waterline marks too.

 

[foolproof]

Aha! Forgot all about the water hose! I re-sided my house several years ago using a water level...worked great for that, should work on the boat.

Now a question about leveling: my boat is on a stand, but it's not level. A lift is not available (it's not at a marina). Can I jack the boat myself using aircraft type jacks by lifting along the keel? Obviously, I would have to make some stands to hold it up, but will it be OK standing on the keel as long as I keep the boat upright?

Thank you for your quick response, Neil.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

My experience is with the boat in a cradle. It was a simple matter of jacking the cradle with the boat along for the ride. I really don't like the idea of jacking the boat on stands, sounds way dangerous to me.

How far out of level is it? The idea of stands is to keep the boat from tipping over, the weight is on the keel. You might be able to adjust the stands, one at a time and in very small increments, to tilt it back into level. Still makes me nervous though.

In the interest of safety you might consider paying for the services of an experienced (and insured) boat mover to perform the leveling exercise. At least call around to see what the cost would be. Also check and see if you're covered by your insurer if the worst occurred when you were leveling it yourself. That might make the decision right there.

 

[foolproof]

Good points. I do have a friend with a wrecker company, and I think he has a boom truck. Maybe I can get him to come out and lift the boat for me, then I can level it. As it is now, rain water won't run off all the way aft.

I'll call him, then try the water level thing. Thanks for your help!

 

[foolproof]

I got it done! I was able to just make out the old stripe under the paint, and managed to get it masked off almost perfectly by using thin masking tape, and holding about 10 feet of tape off the hull, and "sighting" it in. I was able to see any little waves as they layed down, and could pull the tape off and try it again. It turned out awesome! From the sides, the line is very even all the way back, even under the transom. Had I not been able to see the old stripe, I still think I could have worked off of the line where the bottom paint was, and gone up from there.